Daily Mullets (November 12)

Happy Texas Tech Day. I hope I get to use this photo many times.

Using James Washington

I get why OSU does this, but I’m not sure I love it. Why not just do what you do?

Yurcich and his coaches have started including all sorts of adjustments on their game plan. They have a plan for what they think will happen, then they have multiple alternatives. “If they do this,” Yurcich said, “then we do that.” Think of it as one of those choose-your-own-adventure books. But including tangents in the game plan are vital to Yurcich in the press box and his assistants on the sidelines. “Because you can get lost,” he said. [NewsOK]

Sometimes it feels like when they do this, they get too cute and it backfires. Maybe they’re smart enough to get away with it, but you’re always reactive and not proactive. I’m not the biggest fan.

Austin Hays exits on senior day

Hays feels like he’s both been at OSU for forever and for barely any time at all.

For Austin, it’s the injuries, he’s been torn up by them, bless his heart,” said his father, Russell Hays. “But he’s had the time of his life in Stillwater. And we have, too. It’s just been a super-great experience. [NewsOK]

He will leave with ~75 catches and less than 1,000 yards, but it’s clear he has had the experience of a lifetime (as we all did in STW).

Brad Underwood wins No. 90

I wrote about the Campbell game last night, but it was also cool to hear Brad Underwood talk about it.

“I thought a lot today about walking into that building for the first time when it really counts, and how much that means to me. I’ve had a long journey. The journey has made this special. I’ve been blessed from that standpoint.

“But I know how important basketball is at Oklahoma State. I know how great it’s been. I know how important it is to fans. Man, that means so much to me.” [NewsOK]

Those are the very words I used when I made my Women’s Scout Team debut back in 2007. Seriously though, I thought OSU’s offense sort of stunk. Underwood thought so too.

“I thought our effort was good,” Underwood said. “Shots didn’t go tonight, especially from three, but that’s all because we didn’t run any offense. We didn’t move the ball. I thought we played somewhat tentative and, yet, somewhat selfish. [O’Colly]

Averette plays for his son

Good stuff here on Devante Averette and his path to OSU and what being a father to a five-year-old is like while trying to play college football. The Pokes are going to miss that Sterns-Averette-Burton trio when they’re done after the next four games.

“At that young age, when guys got the opportunity to still play, some guys jump ship,” Averette said. “For me, I wanted to see my son grow up a little bit, at least, before I left. I felt like that would have been selfish of me to leave because I felt like some things are just more important. I took it upon myself to work and bring food on the table and see him smile, see him walk and talk. It definitely was a blessing. I definitely never regret it.” [O’Colly]

Baylor in trouble (again)?

I’m shocked a member of the Briles family thought he could get away with something he wasn’t supposed to do without getting caught.

Baylor offensive coordinator Kendal Briles met with NCAA officials in Indianapolis on Wednesday regarding potential recruiting violations, sources said. The NCAA says Briles had improper contact with a recruit. Baylor officials are attempting to get the level of infractions reduced, a source said. Specific details about the alleged violations weren’t immediately known. [ESPN]

Also, Finebaum was lights out on Saturday.

A fired-up Paul Finebaum renewed his call for Baylor’s season to be suspended: https://t.co/jwtFXoGHYE pic.twitter.com/G5ierRq4ZS

— Deadspin (@Deadspin) November 12, 2016

Baker could be OU’s best ever?

Berry Tramel wonders if Baker is going to go down as the best QB in OU history. That’s a stunning thing to think, but he makes the case quite well (and Baker is rolling with Sam Bradford’s 2008 season right now!)

No OU quarterback has ever produced three monster seasons. Bradford and Jamelle Holieway might have, if not for injuries that wrecked their third seasons. Jimmy Harris and Steve Davis were supreme leaders who each produced three conference championships and two national titles but were not prolific individual producers. [NewsOK]

I guess I’m justified in picking him over Mason Rudolph if I had one game to win. Of course I’m not sure he can make this throw.

Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph makes some ridiculously accurate throws outside the numbers along the sideline @Zac_Robinson5#BigTimeThrow pic.twitter.com/Nw0ZKoUwTS

— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) November 12, 2016

More stuff I’m reading

Ole Miss pulling a Mason Rudolph with its future … Kyle Boone doing work in his debut with CBS Sports.